Refuse body having single-stage packing and full ejection

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to refuse collecting and disposal vehicles. In one aspect, it relates to a refuse body adapted to be mounted on a conventional refuse vehicle chassis for loading, compacting and ejecting refuse without tilting of the body.

This appln. is a 371 of PCT/US97/04389 filed Mar. 19, 1997 and alsoclaims the benefit of Provisional No. 60/014,032 filed Mar. 25, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refuse vehicles are typically used by municipalities and waste-removalcontractors to collect refuse material from widely dispersed sourcessuch as residences or commercial establishments and to transport thecollected refuse to a central dump site such as a landfill, recyclingcenter, or transfer point where it can be ejected. Since the dump sitemay be located a long distance from the collection area, it is desirableto "pack" (i.e, compress or compact), the refuse material as it iscollected so as to maximize the number of sources which can be servicedby a vehicle of a given storage capacity before another trip to the dumpsite is necessary. A refuse vehicle typically comprises a conventionaltruck chassis or trailer chassis upon which is mounted a refuse bodyhaving apparatus for collection, packing, storage, and ejection of therefuse.

Three general classes of refuse vehicles are commonly encountered. A"rear-loader" type refuse vehicle is typically provided with a hopper,i.e., receiving compartment, which is accessible from the rear of thevehicle and a movable blade for packing the refuse forward from thehopper into a storage area for storage. A "front-loader" type vehicle istypically provided with a hopper which is accessible from the top, apower-actuated loading mechanism for elevating and dumping refusecontainers from the front of the vehicle into the hopper, and a movableblade for packing the refuse rearward from the hopper into a storagearea for storage. A "side-loader" type vehicle is typically providedwith a hopper which is accessible from the side. Some side-loaders havea power-actuated loading mechanism adapted for gripping, elevating anddumping refuse containers from the side of the vehicle into the hopper,however, other side-loaders utilize manual feeding of the hopper. Amovable blade is also provided for packing the refuse rearward from thehopper into a storage area for storage.

It is generally desirable to maximize the number of sources served by arefuse vehicle during a given time period. In many situations thevehicle's crew can access refuse containers for loading into the hopperfaster that the packing blade can complete its packing cycle, i.e.,extending the packing blade to pack material from the hopper into thestorage compartment, then retracting the packing blade to its originalposition. Many refuse body designs, however, cannot accommodate loadingof the hopper until the packing blade has finished its packing cyclesince refuse material may otherwise fall behind the extended blade andjam the mechanism. In these cases, the crew must wait for the packingblade to complete its cycle before loading the hopper, thus increasingthe time required for the crew to complete their route. A need thereforeexists, for a refuse body apparatus which allows dumping of refusematerial into the loading compartment at any time during the packingoperation.

After the storage area of the refuse body has been filled with packedrefuse material, the material must be transported to the dump site andejected. In some vehicles, this ejection is accomplished by opening arear door on the body and tilting the entire body at an angle so thatthe packed "bale" of refuse slides out of the opened rear door. However,tilting the refuse body during the ejection operation raises the centerof gravity of the entire vehicle, making it more susceptible tooverturning, a very dangerous condition. This danger is especially highwhen the ejecting operation takes place at a dump site having soft ornon-level ground, such as a landfill. A need therefore exists, for arefuse body apparatus having full ejection of refuse without tilting ofthe body.

In other vehicles, ejection of the packed refuse bale is accomplished byopening a rear door and extending an ejecting blade from the front ofthe storage compartment to the rear doorway, thereby pushing the refusebale out the opened rear door without tipping the body. This is termed"full ejection." While this full ejection method avoids the dangersinherent in the tipping of the body, it typically requires an ejectingblade actuator which can extend the entire length of the storagecompartment. Refuse bodies having full ejection, especially front-loaderand side-loader type bodies having long storage areas, typically utilizeone or more multi-stage hydraulic cylinders (i.e., units well known inthe art comprising a barrel, one or more telescoping, fluid actuatedsleeves and a telescoping, fluid actuated plunger which allows theextended unit to "telescope" to several times its retracted length) toachieve the required length of movement required. Although thesemulti-stage cylinders may provide a compact actuator unit with longextension length, they are generally significantly more expensive topurchase initially, significantly more expensive and complicated tomaintain, and generally have a significantly shorter life thansingle-stage cylinders (i.e., units having only a single movable fluidactuated rod) used under the same conditions.

In some refuse bodies using full ejection to eject the packed bale,especially front-loader and side-loader type bodies having long storageareas, the same multi-stage hydraulic cylinders used for the ejectingoperation are also used for the refuse packing operation. In such cases,the multi-stage cylinders are partially extended (i.e., extended only aportion of their full length) to perform the packing operation and arefully extended only to perform the ejecting operation. Such a designthus requires only one type of actuator to accomplish two functions.However, these designs subject the multi-stage cylinders to relativelyhigh-frequency use since the packing operation is typically performedhundreds of times per day while the ejecting operation is typicallyperformed only several times per day. Although the multi-stage cylinderis only partially extended most of the time, this nonetheless results inincreased wear on the multi-stage cylinders and increases the need forexpensive and time-consuming maintenance on them.

In rear-loader type bodies, single-stage cylinders are generally usedfor the packing operation (which packs from the rear) and multi-stagecylinders are generally used for the full eject operation (which ejectsfrom the front). It is known from experience with these rear-loader typebodies that using only the single-stage cylinders for the relativelyfrequent packing operation and using the multi-stage cylinders only forthe relatively infrequent full ejection operation results in long lifeand reduced maintenance on the expensive multi-stage cylinders. A needtherefore exists, for an apparatus for use in front-loader andside-loader type refuse bodies in which both packing and ejecting areaccomplished from the front of the storage area which utilizes onlysingle-stage hydraulic cylinders for the packing operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of clarity and consistency some of the terms used in thespecification and the claims hereof will now be defined. Directionalterms such as "up," "down," "upper," "lower," "top," "bottom,""forward," "rearward," "front," "back," "side," "floor," "horizontal"and "vertical" refer to refuse bodies and refuse vehicles as though theywere disposed in an upright, level position with the front of the bodyfacing the normal direction of vehicle travel.

It is an object of the current invention to provide a refuse body whichallows refuse to be loaded into the loading compartment at any point inthe packing cycle. It is a further object of the current invention toprovide a refuse body which does not require tipping the body to ejectthe refuse from the storage compartment. It is yet another object of thecurrent invention to provide a refuse body in which all packingoperations are accomplished through the use of single-stage hydrauliccylinders.

These and other objects of the invention are realized by providing arefuse body apparatus adapted to be mounted upon a vehicle chassis forloading, packing, and ejecting refuse. The refuse body apparatuscomprises a body shell including a storage compartment and a loadingcompartment, a carrier member mounted for movement longitudinally in thebody shell, a packing actuator connected between the body shell and thecarrier member comprising only single-stage hydraulic cylinders, apacking-and-ejecting blade mounted for movement longitudinally in thebody shell, an ejecting actuator connected between thepacking-and-ejecting blade and the carrier member, a scraper memberpivotally connected to a front wall of the loading compartment andhaving a free end in sliding contact with the packing-and-ejecting bladewhen the blade is below adjacent, and a scraper lifting actuatordisposed below the scraper member to position the free end at apredetermined position when the packing-and-ejecting blade is not belowadjacent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the followingand more particular description of the preferred embodiment of theinvention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which likereference characters generally refer to the same parts or elementsthroughout the views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view with parts broken away of a refuse bodyaccording to one embodiment of the current invention shown mounted uponthe chassis of a vehicle of conventional design of a type generallyknown as a side loader illustrating the various elements of the refusepacking and ejecting apparatus in loading position.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1showing the various elements of the refuse packing and ejectingapparatus in loading position.

FIG. 3 is a simplified side elevation view similar to FIG. 1 butillustrating the packing and ejecting apparatus in packing position.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view similar to FIG. 2 but taken alonglines 4--4 of FIG. 3 illustrating the packing and ejecting apparatus inpacking position.

FIG. 5 is a simplified side elevation view similar to FIGS. 1 and 3 butillustrating the packing and ejecting apparatus in ejecting position andthe rear door open to allow ejection of a refuse bale.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view with parts broken away similar toFIGS. 2 and 4 but taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 5 illustrating thepacking and ejecting apparatus in ejecting position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-6, a preferred embodiment of a refusebody in accordance with the current invention is shown. Referringspecifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 refuse body apparatus 20 is adapted to bemounted upon a vehicle chassis 22 for loading, packing and injectingrefuse. In the preferred embodiment, vehicle chassis 22 is aconventional refuse truck chassis which can be configured as either aside-loader type vehicle or a front-loader type vehicle according to theselection of container retrieval mechanism 23 (shown generally inphantom) or chassis 22 could be a trailer chassis designed to be towedby a tractor type truck.

Refuse body 20 includes a body shell 24 having a storage compartment 26and a loading compartment 28.

Storage compartment 26 is defined by a top 30, side walls 32, a floor34, an openable door 36 normally closing the rear of the storagecompartment, and loading compartment 28 disposed at the front of storagecompartment 26. Loading compartment 28 is defined by a front wall 38,side walls 40 lying generally in the plane as side walls 32 of thestorage compartment, a floor 42 lying generally in the same plane asfloor 34 of the storage compartment, and a rear wall 44 that is commonwith storage compartment 26 and extends downwardly to a level above saidfloors 34, 42 for defining an opening 46 from loading compartment 28into storage compartment 26.

Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 2, refuse body apparatus 20 also includesa carrier member 48 mounted for movement longitudinally in body shell24. In the preferred embodiment, carrier member 48 includes guides 50which extend from the sides of carrier member 48 and engage acorresponding longitudinal channel 52 formed along the side walls 32 and40 of body shell 24. A packing actuator 54 is connected between bodyshell 24 and carrier member 48. Packing actuator 54 comprises at leastone double-acting (i.e., powered during both extension and retraction)single-stage hydraulic cylinder. In the preferred embodiment, packingactuator 54 comprises two double-acting single-stage hydrauliccylinders, each having a barrel portion 56 connected to carrier member48 by trunnion 58 and rod portions 60 connected to lugs on body shell 24by pins 62. The extension and retraction of packing actuator 54 causeslongitudinal relative movement between carrier member 48 and body shell24 since carrier member 48 is constrained to move longitudinally by theinteraction of guides 50 and channel 52.

Refuse body apparatus 20 further comprises a packing-and-ejecting blade64 mounted for longitudinal movement in body shell 24. In the preferredembodiment, packing-and-ejecting blade 64 is constrained to movelongitudinally by guides 66 which extend from the side of blade 64 andengage longitudinal channel 52 formed along side walls 32 and 40 of bodyshell 24. Blade 64 includes a generally vertical packing face 68 and agenerally horizontal top face 70. An ejecting actuator 72 is connectedbetween packing-and-ejecting blade 64 and carrier member 48. In thepreferred embodiment of the current invention, ejecting actuator 72comprises a double-acting multi-stage hydraulic cylinder comprising abarrel portion 74 connected to packing-and-ejecting blade 64 by trunnion76, extendable sleeves 78a and 78b, and extendable plunger portion 79which is connected to lugs on carrier member 48 by pin 80. The extensionand retraction of ejecting actuator 72 causes relative longitudinalmovement between packing-and-ejecting blade 64 and carrier member 48since both blade 64 and carrier member 48 are constrained to move inlongitudinal channel 52 by guides 66 and 50, respectively.

Refuse body apparatus 20 also includes a scraper member 82 pivotallyconnected to front wall 38 of loading compartment 28. In the preferredembodiment shown, scraper member 82 is connected to front wall 38 byhinge 84. Scraper member 82 has a free end 86 in sliding contact withtop face 70 of packing-and-ejecting blade 64 when blade 64 is belowadjacent to free end 86. In the preferred embodiment shown, free end 86of scraper member 82 is comprised of a high density plastic materialdesigned to resist abrasion caused by the movement of top surface 70. Ascraper lifting actuator 88 is disposed below scraper member 82 toposition free end 86 of scraper member 82 at a predetermined position 90when packing and ejector blade 64 is not below adjacent to free end 86.

Normal operation of a refuse body according to the current invention cannow be described. FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a refuse body 20 according to thecurrent invention with packing-and-ejecting blade 64 in the loadingposition, i.e., with both packing actuator 54 and ejecting actuator 72retracted. Refuse material 100 (shown in phantom) is dumped into loadingcompartment 28 where it either falls directly to floor 42 or falls onscraper member 82 and is deflected to the floor.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, extension of packing actuator 54 causescarrier member 48, ejecting actuator 72, and packing-and-ejecting blade64 to move longitudinally rearward as a unit into the packing positionshown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This movement causes packing face 68 of blade 64to push any refuse 100 (shown in phantom) on floor 42 of loadingcompartment 28 through opening 46 and into storage compartment 26. Asrefuse 100 accumulates in storage compartment 26, additional cycling ofpacking actuator 54 will cause the refuse to be packed into a dense bale(not shown). Additional refuse 102 (shown in phantom) may be dumped intoloading compartment 28 at any time during the packing operation becausescraper member 82 and blade top face 70 will prevent the material fromfalling beneath packing-and-ejecting blade 64 where it could jam themechanism.

When packing actuator 54 is retracted, carrier member 48, ejectingactuator 72, and packing-and-ejecting blade 64 move longitudinallyforward as a unit, returning to the loading position of FIGS. 1 and 2and completing the packing cycle. During retraction, scraper member 82will remove refuse 102 from top face 70 of the blade and dump it ontofloor 42 so that it can be packed in the next packing cycle. Note thatin this preferred embodiment, the packing operation is accomplishedsolely through the actuation of the single acting hydraulic cylinders ofpacking actuator 54. Actuation of ejecting actuator 72 is not requiredfor the packing operation. This prevents unnecessary wear on theexpensive, multi-stage hydraulic cylinder of ejecting actuator 72.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, extension of packing actuator 54 causescarrier member 48 to move longitudinally rearward a distance A relativeto body shell 24 and the cooperative extension of ejecting actuator 72causes packing-and-ejecting blade 64 to move longitudinally rearward adistance B relative to carrier member 48 so that blade 64 assumes theejecting position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. This rearward movement ofblade 64 causes a bale 104 (shown in phantom) of compacted refuse to bepushed out the rear end of storage compartment 26 through door 36 whichhas been previously opened. In the preferred embodiment, side walls 32of the storage compartment 26 are not precisely parallel, rather theydiverge slightly, i.e., the width of storage compartment 26 is slightlylarger at the rear end than at the front end. These diverging side walls32 prevent refuse bale 104 from binding as it is being ejected by blade64. Any residual refuse material 106 (shown in phantom) that falls fromcompacted bale 104 as it is being ejected will fall onto top face 70 ofpacking-and-ejecting blade 64 and will be removed when blade 64 isretracted.

As previously discussed, since packing actuator 54 has moved carriermember 48 a distance A from the front end of body shell 24, ejectingactuator 72 must only extend rearward a distance B in order toaccomplish ejecting of the refuse bale rather than moving the entiredistance C which would have been required to eject bale 104 without thecooperative use of packing actuator 54 to assist in ejection. In thismanner, the requirements for ejecting actuator 72 may be met through theuse of a multi-stage hydraulic cylinder having at least one fewer stagesthan would be required without the cooperative use of packing actuator54.

When packing actuator 54 and ejecting actuator 72 are retracted,packing-and-ejecting blade 64 and carrier member 48 are returned to theloading position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As blade 64 approaches free end86 of scraper member 82, scraper lifting actuator 88 will lift free end86 to predetermined position 90 so that it will not interfere with thereturn motion of blade 64. After top face 70 has become below adjacentto scraper free end 86, actuator 88 will allow free end 86 to resumesliding contact with top face 70 so that any residual refuse 106 can bepushed onto loading compartment floor 42. Since this ejection cycleoperation is only performed a few times each day, the current inventionminimizes wear on ejecting actuator 72. This is especially important incases where the ejecting actuator is a multi-stage hydraulic cylinder.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed withreference to a particular refuse body and the method of operationthereof, it is to be understood that many changes in detail may be madeas a matter of engineering choices without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A refuse loading, packing, and ejecting apparatus mountablewithin a refuse body shell having a storage compartment with an internalvertical height defined by the vertical distance between a top and afloor of said storage compartment, said apparatus comprising: a packingactuator, a carrier member, an ejecting actuator, a packing-and-ejectingblade, a scraper member and a scraper lifting actuator;said carriermember and said packing-and-ejecting blade each being mountable withinsaid body shell to allow longitudinal movement within said body shell;said packing-and-electing blade including a generally vertical packingface and a generally horizontal top face connected to said packing face,the vertical distance between the top of said packing face and saidfloor defining a vertical height, said vertical height of the packingface being substantially less than the internal vertical height of thestorage compartment, the horizontal distance between the forward edge ofsaid top face and the rearward edge of said top face defining ahorizontal length of said top face, said horizontal length of said topface being greater than said vertical height of said packing face; oneof said packing actuator and said ejecting actuator having a first endconnectable to said body shell and a second end connected to saidcarrier member; another of said packing actuator and said ejectingactuator having a first end connected to said carrier member and asecond end connected to said packing-and-ejecting blade; said packingactuator comprising a double-acting single-stage hydraulic cylinder andbeing selectively extendable and retractable to produce longitudinalmovement of said packing-and-ejecting blade through a first distancerelative to said body shell;said first distance being sufficient forsaid packing-and-ejecting blade to pack refuse within said body shelland insufficient for said packing-and-ejecting blade to completely ejectrefuse from said body shell; said ejecting actuator comprising adouble-acting hydraulic cylinder and being selectively extendable andretractable to produce longitudinal movement of saidpacking-and-ejecting blade through a second distance relative to saidbody shell;said second distance being insufficient for saidpacking-and-ejecting blade to completely eject refuse from said bodyshell; the sum of said first distance and said second distance beingsufficient for said packing-and-ejecting blade to completely ejectrefuse from said body shell; said scraper member having a first endpivotally connectable to said body shell;said scraper member having afree end in sliding contact with said top face of saidpacking-and-ejecting blade when said packing-and-ejecting blade isvertically beneath said free end of said scraper member; and saidscraper lifting actuator being positioned adjacent said scraper memberand positioning said free end of said scraper member at a predeterminedposition when said packing-and-ejecting blade is not vertically beneathsaid free end of said scraper member.
 2. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein said packing actuator comprises two double actingsingle-stage hydraulic cylinders having a first end connectable to saidbody shell and a second end connected to said carrier member.
 3. Anapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said ejecting actuator comprisesa double acting three-stage hydraulic cylinder having a first endconnected to said carrier member and a second end connected to saidpacking-and-ejecting blade.
 4. A refuse body apparatus mountable on avehicle chassis for loading, packing, and ejecting refuse, saidapparatus comprising:(a) a body shell including a storage compartmentand an adjacent loading compartment;said storage compartment beingdefined by a top, side walls, a floor, a door being positioned at therear of said storage compartment, and a partial wall being positioned atthe front of said storage compartment, the vertical distance betweensaid top and said floor defining an internal vertical height of saidstorage compartment; said loading compartment being defined by a frontwall, side walls lying generally in the same planes as the side walls ofsaid storage compartment, a floor lying generally in the same plane asthe floor of said storage compartment, and said partial wall beingpositioned at the rear of said loading compartment extending downwardlyto a level above said floors defining a passage from said loadingcompartment into said storage compartment; (b) a carrier member mountedfor longitudinal movement within said body shell; (c) a packing actuatorconnected between the front of said body shell and said carriermember;said packing actuator comprising a double acting single-stagehydraulic cylinder; extension and retraction of said packing actuatorproducing relative movement between said carrier member and said bodyshell; (d) a packing-and-ejecting blade mounted for longitudinalmovement within said body shell;said packing-and-ejecting bladeincluding a generally vertical packing face and a generally horizontaltop face, the vertical distance between the top of said packing face andsaid floor of said loading compartment defining a vertical height ofsaid packing face, said vertical height of said packing face beingsubstantially less than the internal vertical height of the storagecompartment; (e) an ejecting actuator connected between saidpacking-and-ejecting blade and said carrier member;said ejectingactuator comprising a double-acting hydraulic cylinder; extension andretraction of said ejecting actuator producing relative movement betweensaid packing-and-ejecting blade and said carrier member; (f) a scrapermember having a first end pivotally connected to said front wall of saidloading compartment;said scraper member having a free end in slidingcontact with said top face of said packing-and-ejecting blade when saidpacking-and-ejecting blade is vertically beneath said free end of saidscraper member; and (g) a scraper lifting actuator positioned adjacentsaid scraper member to position said free end at a predeterminedposition when said packing-and-ejecting blade is not vertically beneathsaid free end of said scraper member.
 5. A refuse body apparatusaccording to claim 4, further comprising a power-actuated liftingmechanism for elevating refuse containers and dumping their contentsinto said loading compartment.
 6. A refuse body apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein said lifting mechanism is adapted to cooperate withrefuse containers accessible from the front of the vehicle.
 7. A refusebody apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said lifting mechanism isadapted to cooperate with refuse containers accessible from the side ofthe vehicle.
 8. A method of loading, packing, and ejecting refuse in arefuse body shell, said method comprising the steps:(a) loading aquantity of refuse into a loading compartment of said refuse body shell;(b) extending a packing actuator comprising a double acting single-stagehydraulic cylinder to move a packing-and-ejecting blade longitudinallywithin said refuse body shell from an initial position to a secondposition to pack said refuse from said loading compartment into astorage compartment of said refuse body shell; (c) loading an additionalquantity of refuse into said loading compartment of said refuse bodyshell when said packing actuator is extended and saidpacking-and-ejecting blade is in said second position; (d) retractingsaid packing actuator to return said packing-and-ejecting blade fromsaid second position to said initial position; (e) repeating steps(a)-(d) until ejection of said refuse in said storage compartment isdesired; (f) extending said packing actuator and extending an ejectingactuator comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder, eithersimultaneously or in any sequence, to move said packing-and-ejectingblade longitudinally within said refuse body shell from said initialposition to a third position to eject said refuse from said storagecompartment;said second position being located between said initialposition and said third position (g) retracting said packing actuatorand retracting said ejecting actuator to return saidpacking-and-ejecting blade from said third position to said initialposition, this step including the substeps of;(i) using a scraperlifting actuator mounted on said refuse body shell to position a freeend of a scraper member at a predetermined position when saidpacking-and-ejecting blade is located between said second position andsaid third position, said predetermined level providing verticalclearance between said free end of said scraper member and the uppersurface of said packing-and-ejecting blade; and (ii) using said scraperlifting actuator to allow said free end of said scraper member tocontact said upper surface of said packing-and-ejecting blade when saidpacking-and-ejecting blade is located between said second position andsaid initial position.
 9. A refuse loading, packing, and ejectingapparatus mountable within a refuse body shell having a storagecompartment, said apparatus comprising:a packing-and-ejecting blademounted within said body shell to allow longitudinal movement withinsaid body shell, said packing-and-ejecting blade including a generallyvertical packing face and a generally horizontal top face connected tosaid packing face; a scraper member having a first end pivotally mountedwithin said body shell;said scraper member having a free end in slidingcontact with said top face of said packing-and-ejecting blade when saidpacking-and-ejecting blade is vertically beneath said free end of saidscraper member; and a scraper lifting actuator being operably connectedto said scraper member and positioning said free end of said scrapermember at a predetermined vertical position when saidpacking-and-ejecting blade is not vertically beneath said free end ofsaid scraper member.